BOYCOTT eBay Feb 18-25 in response to raised FVFs & no buyer FB

[ima_sinnic]

A move is on to boycott eBay during week of Feb 18-25 because of the increase in Final Value Fees to 8.75% of first $25 (more details, see http://pages.ebay.com/sell/update08/basic/index.html#insertion , scroll down), effective FEB 20.

This eBay Discussion Forum thread from Seller Central with more than 4,000 replies is an example of how disgruntled sellers have become:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=1000636290&tstart=0&mod=1202375668302

NYTimes Blog entry about the FB changes, with lots of mostly supportive commentary:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/sellers-give-negative-feedback-on-ebay-changes/?ref=technology

Good resource for researching alternatives to eBay:
http://www.powersellersunite.com/auctionsitewatch.php
Many sites listed in the chart are absolutely free for sellers. Their only drawback, of course, is the low traffic--but if you've had items languishing for months in an eBay Shop and have been paying for that privilege, try letting them languish FOR FREE at a site like blujay, which appears to be getting busier and busier. I also think Wagglepop and eCrater are very attractive, appearance-wise. Many untapped niches at these sites. It will be interesting to see if one or two can emerge as a viable competitor to FeeBay.

The discussion forums at the Power Sellers Unite link also include links to even more alternatives and give an idea of people's experiences at those other sites as well as their determination to strike new ground even in the face of few sales due to low traffic.

[InvisibleTouch]

1. Good links, thanks!

I will check them out when I have some time later today. I'm not so bothered by the FVF change, because the insertion fees would be going down and that would help me a lot, but I HATE the buyer feedback change and the new PowerSeller requirements.

I've tried some of the alternative auction sites and never sold anything there, because they just don't have the traffic, but I'll check out some of the links. It would certainly be worth giving it another shot.

[ima_sinnic]

2. insertion is about 40 cents cheaper, but final value fee a lot more

really, in the bigger picture, the insertion fees are going down by only 5 cents, plus free Gallery saves another 35 cents--but the difference in FVF could be a lot more than that. I recently sold an item for $81.50 that I started at $11.95. I just compared what I am now paying in fees versus I would pay in fees if I were to sell it after the new fees go into effect:

now:
insertion $0.60
Gallery $.0.35
first $25 x .0525 fvf: $1.31
remaining $56.50 x .0325 fvf: $1.84
TOTAL: $4.10

the way it will be after 2/20:
insertion: $0.55
Galllery: ---
first $25 x .0875 fvf: $2.18
remaining $56.50 x .035 fvf: $1.98
TOTAL: $4.71

there is probably some break-even point where the two figures would be the same, but it seems to ne the new structure hurts sellers who sell lower-value items. Try some of your items with their formulas--I think the lower insertion fee and free Gallery are just bones they are throwing to cover up their greed with the new FVFs.

[laundry_queen]

3. Thanks for posting this.

I was just coming here to mention this.
Here's a link to a you tube video about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23TomS5--nQ

[Vinca]

4. Thanks for posting. I'll do it. I'm especially annoyed about the feedback thing.

[Lorien]

5. OK, I'm in. I guess I'll have to find another way to pay my medical bills

:-(